Coordinated bow sight and range finder



Oct. 23, 1956 J $..KOCUR 2,767,472

COORDINATED BOW SIGHT AND RANGE FINDER Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet1 BLRCK WHITE Y LLOW GREEN Oct. 23, 1956 J. 5. KOCUR COORDINATED BowSIGHT AND RANGE FINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1955 Unimd Statesatent COORDINATED BOW SIGHT AND RANGE FINDER Joseph S. Kocur, Rockaway,N. J.

Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,227

9 Claims. (CI. 33-46) The invention relates in general 'to archery andhas particular reference to range finding and sighting instruments to bemounted on a bow for use in hunting game with bow and arrow.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to combine a range finder with abow sight, but the combination instruments of this nature inventedheretofore have not proved to be practically successful for game huntingbecause of the time required to translate a range reading into theappropriate sight setting. Although one such invention purports toeffect perfectly coordinated sight-setting when range determination hasbeen completed, no allowance is made for preliminary sight adjustment tocorrect for the particular flight characteristics of the set of arrowsto be used on a hunting occasion. In other words, the prior art bowsight and range finder combinations are not the instruments of precisionand speed required in hunting elusive game animals such as deer.

A hunter may have the luck to encounter a standing or slowly moving gameanimals at sufficiently close range for an accurately aimed bow andarrow shot but'may have only about four or five seconds of time in whichto determine the range and bring a properly elevated sight to bear uponthe target before the latter becomes aware of the hunters presencethrough sight, scent or sound and leaps away too fast for the release ofan accurate shot. It therefore is the primary object of my presentinvention to provide a combination range finder and bow sight which isof such construction that range determination and sight setting may becoordinated accurately in the few seconds of time that usually will beavailable before the game vanishes from sight.

A further object of the invention is to provide ,a coordinated rangefinder and bow sight combination instrument of this character which isof extremely simple construction so as not to add unduly to the weightof the bow on which it is mounted, nor adversely affect its balance, andone which consequently will be inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent as the following specific description is read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a typical hunting how havingthe invention attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a similar rear elevationshowing in exploded relation the code card used therewith; Fig. 3 is ahorizontal crosssection on line 33 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is asilhouetted fragmentary rear elevation of the bow and instrument inoperational use, range-finding manipulation being shown in full linesand sighting after swinging the bow horizontally in broken lines.

Referring now in detail to the drawings,'wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views, thestructure of the combination bow sight and range finder instrument andthe manner in which it is mounted on a hunting bow are illustrated inFigs. 1 to 3, inclusive, Whereas the mode of use in hunting is depictedmore or less graphically in Fig. 4.

The bow B includes a handle H and upper and lower limbs L and L",respectively, which usually are integral with the handle. My combinationinstrument comprises a range finder component 10 and a sight component11. Both components are intended to be mounted on the upper limb L ofthe bow, where they are approximately at eye level when the bow is heldin normal shooting position with the top of the handle horizontallyopposite to the chin. For reasons which will become apparent later, therange finder component is mounted preferably on the rearwardly presentedface of upper limb L, i. e. facing the archer, whereas the sightcomponent is mounted on the forwardly presented face.

The range finder component 10 includes a frame 12 which may be in theform shown but is capable of con-- siderable modification within thespirit of the invention and scope of the claims. It is desirable howeverto utilize a structure that provides an elongated vertical plate, orstrip, 13 arranged with its broad surfaces presented to front and rear,respectively. Feet 14 and 15 at the respective upper and lower ends ofplate 13 are provided for attachment to the rear face of upper bow limbL by suitable means, such as taping or the screws 16-46 shown in thedrawings. Projecting rearward from the respective upper and lower endsof plate 13 are horizontally fiat flanges 17 and 18 to support mountingmeans for the horizontally extending upper and lower spanning bars 19and 29 which project outward from the right side of the bow for aright-handed archer. In the range-finding operation to be described morefully hereinafter, relative vertical adjustment, or controlledseparation, of spanning bars 19 and 20 is effected manually. Whilevarious equivalent ways may be found to mount the spanning bars insubsequent development of the invention, I prefer to perforate them forreception of a side-by-side pair of parallel guide rods 2121 that extendvertically between the upper and lower frame flanges 17 and 18previously described. Both spanning bars are initially slidable on guiderods 2l-2Ii, but it is preferred to lock lower bar 24) in position,which may be done conveniently by use of setscrew 22. The upper spanningbar 19, however, is to be slidaole under light finger pressure butadapted to be secured frictionally in any adjusted position. Thissecuring action may be performed by various known means, but it ispreferred to use the detent 23 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which is in theform of a looped coil spring that embraces guide rods 2121 and issecured against accidental detachment from spanning bar 19 or verticaldisplacement in relation thereto by being threaded through a retainingyoke 24 carried by said bar. Retaining yoke 24 straddles the upper andlower faces of spanning bar 19 and preferably is affixed to the latterby screw means 25 at the inner, or front, edge thereof. 7

A pair of spring clips 26 and 27 are affixed to the left side edges offrame plate 13 in overlying relation to the rearwardly presented face ofthe latter to serve as convenient means to grip and hold a range-sightcode card 28 in clearly visible relation to the spanning bars.

It may be explained at this juncture that the range-sight code cardbears a scale 29 calibrated in terms of yards of range to the target,such as a game animal, and the movable spanning bar H traverses thescale as a pointer. In addition to the numerical divisions of scale 29,the spaces between divisions are colored distinctively as successivebands 30-30a-3t3b30c30d in accordance with a range-sight code capable ofalmost instantaneous interpretation and use under conditions of lowvisibility and by persons with defective visual acuity when thenecessity for reading the indicated scale numerals might prevent asufficiently quick shot at the game.

There will be a range-sight code card especially cali brated for eachkind of target animal or fowl, such as the deer illustrated in Fig. 4.Because the range will vary in direct proportion to the apparent heightof a targetof characteristic size, that criterion has been adopted inconnection with my code scale. Moreover, the different hunters who mayhave use for such a card are likely to differ in arm reach, which willaffect the use of the range finder component. Therefore, it is necessaryalso to provide cards for any particular game animal in a seriescalibrated for the commonly occuring variations in reach.

In using the range finder component, the bow is held at arms length invertical shooting position, as shown in Fig. 4, with the lower spanningbar 26 in apparent line with the ground beneath the target animal. Then,with a finger of the free hand, the upper spanning bar 19 is slid up ordown, as the case may be, until it appears to rest upon the back of theanimal. The range may be read on scale .29 just beneath upper spanningbar 19, simultaneously with observation of the coinciding. colorindication. The translation of either range yardage or color intosighting elevation to be used will be explained after the structuraldetails of sight component 11 have been described. It may be added atthis point, however, that ared band 302 has been located below the 50yards range division of the scale to warn against trying a shot at thisexcessive range.

The frame of sight component 11 is somewhat abbreviated in structure andincludes respective upper and lower horizontally fiat plates 31 and 32,which have feet 31' and 32'.to be attached to the forwardly presentedface of upper limb L of the how by convenient means, such as screws33-33, directly opposite to range finder component 10. Parallel verticalguide rods 34-1-34 interconnect plates 3132 and serve as convenientmeans to support a series of horizontally extending slides 35 forvertical sliding adjustment. Each slide may be secured in adjustedposition by means such as setscrew 36. Bead sights 3737a37b37 c--37d aresupported by the respective slides 35 in a row between the top andbottom of sight component 11 and project outward from the side of thebow opposite to spanning bars 19 and 20. Each bead sight preferably isin the form of a simple headed screw having longitudinally adjustablescrewthreaded engagement with its corresponding slide 35. The head ofthe screw serves conveniently as the bead of the sight and as furthermeans by which horizontal adjustment for windage correction may beeffected with use of a screwdriver or knife blade. The respective beadsand range-related bands of the code card scale are colored alike inaccordance withthe translational code from top to bottom successively insharply contrasting colors or shades, such as black, white, yellow,green and silver. A locknut 38 (Fig. 3) has been provided, preferably onthe end of each bead sight opposite to the head, or head, for lockingabutment against the corresponding end of the slide 35 in which the saidbead sight is fitted to secure the sight in horizontally adjustedposition.

The operational use of my improved combination range finder and sightwill now be described in connection with deer hunting.

Before starting out, and probably on the preceding day, the particulararrows which it is desired to use should be tested by actual shooting atdifferent distances on a practice archery range. The reason for this isthe fact that i apparently well matched arrows may differ in flightcharacteristics, such as weight, balance, spine, etc. Testing should beat the distances corresponding to the yardage scale ofthe code card tobe used for deer and calibrated for the hunters actual reach, which onthe illustrative card is 28 inches. Testing should commence withshooting at yards distance with uppermost bead sight 37 and progresswith use of sight 37a at yards, sight 37b at yards, sight 37c at 30yards, and sight 37d at, 40 yards. At each distance, the bead sight usedshould be adjusted vertically, ifnecessary, until asatisfactorily closepattern 4. of hits is obtained, after which setscrew 36 is finallytightened to retain the sight-setting. Any arrows which deviate markedlyfrom the target pattern are rejected.

When the hunting grounds are reached, it is time to consider the effectof existing wind conditions in relation to possible deflection of arrowsin flight. If there happens to be negligible wind velocity, the beadsights may be arranged in true vertical alignment, as represented infull lines in. Fig. 2.- This setting of zero windage also applies if thehunter can choose a down-wind stand from the probabledirectionofapproachof deer, or if, in stalking a deer unde gobservation,he can approach the deer from the much-to-be-desired down-winddirection. If, on the contrary, therehappensto be a strong side windblowing, the respective sight beads should be adjusted away from thewind, as to the left for a wind from the right-hand direction, as shownby way of example in broken lines in Fig. 2.

Now, upon referencev to Fig. :4, it will be assumed that a deer hasappearedbroadside to the hunter at close range. In order to get anaccurate shot which will kill and not just wound the deer, the hunterwill hold the bow in vertical shooting position at arms length towardthe deer and glance along the right side of it just long enough to holdthe lower spanning bar. onan apparent level with the deers feet andmanually flip the upper bar up or down, as the case may be, until itappears to rest upon the deers back. That gives him the range in yardson the scale of thecode card, if he can read it under the existing lightconditions. In any evenflthe color of the band just under the upperspanning bar should be sufiiciently visible. In the illustrativeexarnplerepresented in Fig. 4, the indicated range is 10 yards and the colorindication is black,

so the hunter quickly swings the bow to the right (direc-.

tion of the arrow) until the deer is visible from the other side of thebow and brings top bead sight 37 to bear on the most vulnerable area ofthe deers body, which is that marked by the imaginary circle, and heshoots his arrow at this aiming point.

In the illustrative example, the coordinated components of theinstruments are represented as being designed. for use by a right-handedhunter who holds the bow with his left hand and manipulates the stringand nocked arrow with the right hand, but it is to be understood thatthe instrument will be manufactured in right-hand and lefthand models tosuit all archers regardless of their particular handedness. However, inan emergency, an ingenious archer can modify a right-hand set of rangefinder and sight components so that they may be mounted in invertedpositions on the bow for use by one who is left-handed,

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes andmodifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for thepurpose of illustration which donot constitute departures from thespirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a bow of a range finder component including apair of spanning members, means to mount said spanning members on thebow for relative vertical separational adjustment in positionsprojecting horizontally from one side of the bow when in normal shootingposition whereby said members may be adjusted to span the apparentoutline of a target of substantially uniform known dimensions in itsclass, means providing a vertical scale of range indicia arranged on thebow in a position to be traversed by one of said spanning members, theother spanning member being stationary on the bow, and a sight componentincluding a series of sighting members arranged in a vertical row toproject horizontally from the'side of the bow oppositely with respect tothe spanning members, and means mounting said sighting members forvertical adjustment to permit setting the respectivemembersin positionssuitable for different ranges said sighting members, respectivelybearing indicia corresponding to that of the respective range scaleindicia 2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the distinctiveindicia of the range scale and the sighting members consists ofdifferent coloration for the respective ranges.

3. A combination range finder and sight to be mounted on a bowcomprising: a range finder component including bow-attachable framemeans, linear guide means carried by said frame means and adapted to bearranged parallel to a limb of the bow, a pair of spanning bars slidableon said guide means and projecting laterally therefrom whereby saidspanning bars may be adjusted in relative separation to span theapparent outline of a target of substantially uniform known dimensionsin its class, and a scale of measurement adapted to be arrangedlengthwise of said guide means and being calibrated in terms of range inrelation to successive variations in interval between the spanningmembers; and a sight com ponent including frame means, linear guidemeans adapted to be arranged parallel to the guide means of the rangefinder component, plural slides longitudinally slidable on said guidemeans, means by which each slide may be secured in adjusted position onsaid guide means, and sighting members projecting laterally from therespective slides parallel to the spanning bars of the range findercomponent and in the opposite direction and being individuallyhorizontally adjustable for Wind deflection settings.

4. A combination range finder and sight as defined in claim 3, whereineach sighting member has screwthreaded connection with its correspondingslide.

5. A combination range finder and sight to be mounted on a bowcomprising: a range finder component including bow-attachable framemeans, linear guide means carried by said frame means and being in theform of parallel rods adapted to be arranged parallel to a limb of thebow, a pair of spanning bars slidable on said guide rods and projectinglaterally therefrom whereby said spanning bars may be adjusted inrelative separation to span the apparent outline of a target ofsubstantially uniform dimensions in its class, means to secure one ofsaid spanning bars fixedly to the guide rods, means to secure the otherspanning bar in adjusted position on the guide rods and being in theform of a looped coil spring movable with said bar and frictionallyembracing the said guide rods, and a scale of measurement adapted to bearranged lengthwise of said guide rods and being calibrated in terms ofrange in relation to successive varia tions in interval between thespanning members; and a sight component including frame means, linearguide means adapted to be arranged parallel to the guide means of therange finder component, plural slides longitudinally slidable on saidguide means, means by which each slide may be secured in adjustedposition on said guide means, and sighting members projecting laterallyfrom the respective slides parallel to the spanning bars of the rangefinder component and in the opposite direction.

6. A combination range finder and sight as defined in claim 5, whereinthe range scale of the range finder component constitutes one of aninterchangeable series differing in calibration for targets ofrespectively different known dimensions, wherein means is provided onthe range finder component to mount each of the interchangeable scalesremovably in operative relation to the spanning members of saidcomponent, and wherein the respective graduated divisions of the rangescale of the range finder component and the corresponding sightingmembers of the sight com-ponent bear identical indicia, whereby theappropriate sighting member for any indicated range may be selectedinstantaneously by visual matching of indicia.

7. A combination range finder and sight as defined in claim 6, whereinthe corresponding indicia of the range scale divisions of the rangefinder component and the sighting members of the sight component arerepresented in matching colors.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein the range scale of therange finder component constitutes one of an interchangeable seriesdiffering in calibration for targets of respectively diiferent knowndimensions, and wherein means is provided on the range finder componentto mount each of the interchangeable scales removably in operativerelation to the spanning members of said component.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein the respective graduateddivisions of the range scale of the range finder component and thesighting members of the sight component corresponding thereto bearmatching colors.

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